Summary of the Conference Call for Giant Network Company Overview - **Company**: Giant Network - **Industry**: Gaming Key Points and Arguments Performance of "Supernatural Action Group" - "Supernatural Action Group" has shown significant improvement in the iOS sales rankings from June to August, reaching a peak of 100 million concurrent users in July and maintaining a top five position in the iOS free chart [2][3] - The game ranked around 52nd, 22nd, and 12th in the iOS sales chart during June, July, and August respectively, and improved to around 11th after the launch of "Escape from Horror" in September [4][5] - The upcoming "Monster Farm" is expected to further increase online user engagement and revenue during the National Day holiday [2][5] Future Product Pipeline - In addition to "Supernatural Action Group," Giant Network has several upcoming titles, including "Ming Jiang Sha" and "5,000 Years," which are set to launch between 2026 and 2027, potentially driving revenue growth [2][6] - The company is actively integrating AI technology into its games, enhancing user experience and engagement through innovative features [6][9] Market Expectations and Valuation - Market expectations for Giant Network's performance in 2025 and 2026 have been continuously revised upward due to the strong performance of "Supernatural Action Group" [7][8] - The company's valuation is expected to rise as "Supernatural Action Group" becomes a leading long-term game, alongside the launch of other products [8] AI Integration and Innovations - Giant Network has made significant strides in integrating AI with gaming, enhancing player engagement and retention through features like the Deepseek R1 model in its core product [9] - The introduction of AI-driven gameplay mechanics has led to increased player activity, session length, and revenue growth [9] Key Factors Influencing Future Performance - Future performance and stock price are influenced by the ongoing updates and innovations in "Supernatural Action Group," as well as the impact of "Monster Farm" and upcoming holiday events [10][11] - The successful testing and launch of new products like "Ming Jiang Sha" will also play a crucial role in the company's long-term growth and valuation [11][13] Current Market Position - Despite recent stock price fluctuations, Giant Network remains in a growth phase, with new product performances expected to drive significant revenue revisions [12][13] Additional Important Insights - The company is focusing on maintaining a robust product pipeline and leveraging AI to enhance gaming experiences, which are critical for sustaining growth in a competitive market [6][9] - Investors are encouraged to monitor the performance of new products and their potential impact on revenue and market valuation [12][13]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Strong Buy" investment rating for the company [2][5]. Core Insights - The company reported a revenue of 1.662 billion RMB for the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 16.47%, and a net profit of 777 million RMB, up 8.27% year-on-year. In Q2 alone, revenue reached 938 million RMB, with a growth of 28.42%, and net profit was 429 million RMB, growing by 17.49% year-on-year [1][5]. - The company has a robust pipeline of new games, with the self-developed game "Supernatural Action Team" showing rapid user and revenue growth since its launch, although its main contributions will be recognized in future reporting periods due to revenue deferral [5]. - The flagship mobile game "Original Journey" has performed excellently, with a significant increase in user base and stable monthly revenue of 100 million RMB. The company also continues to innovate in the casual gaming sector [5]. - The company is actively embracing AI technology, collaborating with major firms to enhance gaming experiences and user engagement [5]. Financial Performance - The company’s total revenue is projected to reach 4.413 billion RMB in 2025, with a year-on-year growth of 51%. The net profit is expected to be 2.056 billion RMB, reflecting a growth of 44% [6][9]. - The company’s financial ratios indicate a healthy growth trajectory, with a projected PE ratio of 29.4 for 2025, decreasing to 16.3 by 2027 [9][6]. - The company’s cash flow from operating activities is expected to improve significantly, reaching 2.796 billion RMB by 2027 [7]. Market Position - The company has a total market capitalization of 6.04 billion RMB, with a strong return on equity (ROE) of 10.6% [2][5]. - The company’s debt levels are low, with an asset-liability ratio of 13.4%, indicating strong financial stability [2][9].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [9]. Core Views - The company achieved revenue of 938 million yuan in Q2 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.42% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 29.64%. The net profit attributable to the parent company was 429 million yuan, up 17.49% year-on-year and 23.37% quarter-on-quarter [2][5]. - The game "Supernatural Action Group" has shown exponential growth in user scale and revenue, reaching a peak of over 1 million concurrent users in July. The game has consistently ranked in the top 10 of the iOS free games chart and reached a highest position of 4 in the iOS revenue chart [6]. - The company’s deferred revenue has increased significantly, with confirmed deferred income of 889 million yuan as of June 30, 2025, compared to 761 million yuan on March 31, 2025, and 498 million yuan in Q2 2024. This increase is expected to continue contributing to revenue growth [6]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, the company reported total revenue of 1.662 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.47%. The net profit attributable to the parent company was 777 million yuan, up 8.27% year-on-year [5]. - The company’s Q2 2025 revenue was 938 million yuan, with a net profit of 429 million yuan and a non-recurring net profit of 444 million yuan [2][5]. Game Performance and Development - The game "Supernatural Action Group" has achieved significant user growth and revenue, with a stable monthly revenue of around 100 million yuan for "Original Journey" and a total of over 20 million new users in the first half of the year [6]. - Several new games are in the pipeline, including "Five Thousand Years" and "Famous Generals Kill," which are expected to contribute to future revenue growth [7]. Sales and Marketing - Sales expenses increased to 317 million yuan in Q2 2025, with a sales expense ratio of 33.8%. However, the overall return on investment (ROI) from marketing efforts remains favorable [7]. - The company is actively pursuing a comprehensive layout of games combined with AI technology, enhancing user engagement and playtime [7]. Profit Forecast - The company is projected to achieve net profits of 2.26 billion yuan and 3.18 billion yuan in 2025 and 2026, respectively, corresponding to price-to-earnings ratios of 26.2 and 18.6 [7].

Core Viewpoint - Giant Network reported a revenue of 1.662 billion yuan for the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 16.47%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 777 million yuan, up 8.27% year-on-year [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 1.5 yuan per 10 shares, amounting to approximately 284 million yuan, marking the third consecutive year of mid-year dividends since 2023 [1] - Monthly average revenue for the flagship mobile game "Original Journey" has stabilized at 100 million yuan, supporting sustainable business development [1] Group 2: Game Development and User Growth - The newly launched game "Supernatural Action Group" has seen exponential growth in user base and revenue, with over 1 million concurrent users in July [2] - "Original Journey" has successfully added 5.86 million new users in its first month after launching a mini-game version, with total new users exceeding 20 million in the first half of the year [1] - "Ball Ball Battle" has improved user retention and reputation, with over 11 million new users in the first half of 2025, showing a month-on-month increase [2] Group 3: AI Integration and Innovation - The company is integrating AI technology into its core gaming business, enhancing product interaction and gameplay mechanisms [2] - The game "Space Kill" continues to iterate on AI-native gameplay, maintaining industry leadership [3] - Collaboration with cloud service providers like Volcano Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, and Tencent Cloud is ongoing to advance AI applications in the gaming sector [3]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the news is that Giant Network has reported significant growth in revenue and net profit for the first half of 2025, driven by the success of its self-developed game "Supernatural Action Team" [1] - The company achieved operating revenue of 1.662 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.47%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 777 million yuan, up 8.27% year-on-year [1] - The game "Supernatural Action Team" has seen rapid growth in user base and revenue, with a milestone of over 1 million concurrent users reached in July, and it ranks in the top 5 of the iOS free game chart and top 4 in the iOS revenue chart [1] Group 2 - The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 1.50 yuan per 10 shares, totaling approximately 284 million yuan, marking the third consecutive year of mid-year dividends since 2023 [1] - The "Journey" IP continues to develop its "evergreen game" strategy, with flagship mobile game "Original Journey" achieving 5.86 million new users in its first month after launching a mini-game version, and over 20 million new users in the first half of the year [1] - The average monthly revenue for "Original Journey" has remained stable at 100 million yuan [1] Group 3 - The game "Ball Ball Battle" has seen significant innovation in gameplay, leading to a substantial increase in daily participation rates and improved user retention and reputation [2] - In the first half of 2025, the game accumulated over 11 million new users, with a monthly upward trend, and daily active users exceeding 1 million on mini-program platforms [2]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive investment rating for the media and internet industry, particularly highlighting leading companies in various segments such as gaming, IP, and live streaming [1]. Core Insights - The media sector has seen a 2.39% increase over the past week, ranking 6th among all industries, and a year-to-date increase of 13.62%, ranking 3rd overall. This growth is attributed to policy support for sub-industries like gaming and a shift in market perception towards "emerging consumption" [1]. - The report emphasizes the long-term growth potential of cultural, sports, gaming, and live streaming sectors as part of China's consumption upgrade, driven by rising GDP per capita [1]. - The gaming industry is currently valued at approximately 17 times earnings, indicating a reasonable valuation with safety margins despite multiple favorable factors such as policy support and accelerated overseas expansion [1]. Summary by Sections Market Performance Review - The media industry index increased by 2.39% from June 30 to July 6, outperforming the Shanghai Composite Index, which rose by 1.40% [10]. - The top-performing stocks in the media sector during this period included Giant Network with a 17.42% increase and other companies like Jibite and 37 Interactive Entertainment [12][13]. Key Data in Film and Gaming Industries - The top films by box office for the week included "Jurassic World: Rebirth" with a box office of 298.34 million and "Detective Conan: The One-Eyed Phantom" with 125.00 million [18]. - In the gaming sector, the top mobile games included "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite," both published by Tencent, dominating the iOS sales rankings [31]. Television and Streaming Insights - The highest-rated TV drama was "Jinxiu Fanghua" with a rating of 2.075% on Hunan TV, while the top web dramas included "In the Name of Law" and "Jinxiu Fanghua" [22][24]. - The top variety show was "Keep Running Season 9," leading the ratings with a broadcast index of 79.4 [28]. Emerging Consumption Trends - The report identifies emerging consumption as a new market focus, with significant user engagement and consumption potential observed in sectors like gaming, trendy IPs, music, and sports events [1]. - The report suggests a 2-3 year investment horizon for quality leading companies in these sectors, emphasizing the importance of content creativity and operational capabilities [1].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent financial troubles of Shi Yuzhu, a prominent businessman, due to frozen shares and guarantees made for friends, highlighting the risks associated with personal guarantees in business dealings [4][21][26]. Group 1: Share Freezing Events - Shi Yuzhu's shares worth over 3.9 billion yuan have been frozen, with the latest incident involving 277 million yuan in shares from Guangxi Beibu Gulf Bank [3][4]. - The previous freezing occurred in May 2023, where Giant Investment was implicated in a 490 million yuan execution case related to Lu Zhiyuan [4][10]. - The total amount of frozen shares related to Shi Yuzhu has exceeded 3.9 billion yuan, including significant amounts from companies he has been associated with [20][21]. Group 2: Personal Guarantees and Financial Impact - Shi Yuzhu has been involved in multiple guarantee cases, including a notable 1.8 billion yuan guarantee for Zhao Wei and her ex-husband, which led to significant financial repercussions for him [21][22]. - The article mentions that Shi Yuzhu's guarantees have resulted in a cumulative liability of approximately 5.8 billion yuan, highlighting the risks of high-leverage and personal guarantees in the capital market [21][26]. - Despite these challenges, Shi Yuzhu's company, Giant Network, has shown resilience with a reported revenue of 2.923 billion yuan in 2024, indicating a slight decrease but a significant profit increase of 31.15% [23][24]. Group 3: Return to Core Business - Following advice to focus on game development, Shi Yuzhu returned to Giant Network in September 2022, leading to a revitalization of the company's flagship game, "Zhengtu" [22][23]. - The introduction of new game features and marketing strategies has attracted over 25 million new users for the "Zhengtu" series, contributing significantly to revenue [23][24]. - The stock price of Giant Network has seen a substantial increase of approximately 74% since May 2025, reflecting positive market sentiment despite the ongoing financial issues [23][24]. Group 4: Historical Context and Future Outlook - Shi Yuzhu's business journey has been marked by cycles of debt and recovery, dating back to the 1990s when he faced significant financial challenges [25][26]. - The article suggests that despite his current wealth, the ongoing issues with frozen shares and personal guarantees may continue to pose risks to his financial stability and business operations [26][27]. - The narrative emphasizes the lessons learned from Shi Yuzhu's experiences, particularly regarding the dangers of mixing personal relationships with business commitments [27].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company, indicating an expected stock price increase of over 15% compared to the benchmark index [3][11]. Core Insights - The company achieved a record high net profit attributable to shareholders of 14.25 billion RMB in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 31.15%. The total revenue for the same year was 29.23 billion RMB, remaining stable compared to the previous year [1]. - In Q1 2025, the company reported revenue of 7.24 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 3.94%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders was 3.48 billion RMB, a slight decrease of 1.29% [1]. - The company is actively exploring the integration of gaming and AI, with significant user growth in its gaming IPs, particularly on mini-program platforms [2]. Financial Performance Summary - For 2024, the company reported total revenue of 29.23 billion RMB, with a net profit of 14.25 billion RMB, and a non-recurring net profit of 16.23 billion RMB, showing increases of 31.15% and 18.23% year-on-year, respectively [1]. - The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 1.40 RMB per share to shareholders, totaling 5.3 billion RMB for the year [1]. - The financial forecast for EPS is projected at 0.84, 0.94, and 1.01 RMB for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively, with corresponding PE ratios of 17, 16, and 14 times [3]. Business Development Summary - The company has seen significant success in its gaming segment, particularly with the "Zhengtu" IP, which attracted over 25 million new users on mini-programs, generating 600 million RMB in revenue [2]. - The company is enhancing its AI capabilities, integrating AI features into its games, and collaborating with major tech firms to expand its AI ecosystem [2].